Drive-chain



(ModeL) B. P. ORTON.

DRIVE CHAIN.

No. 387,006 Patented July 31, 1888.

INVENTOH f%z,

WITNESSES.

ATTORNEYS,

N. PETERS. Phclolnmgnp'wh UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. ORTON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DRIVE-CHAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 387,006, dated July 31,1888.

Application filed April 16, 1887. Renewed June 30, 1888. Serial No.278,709. (Model) T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. ORTON, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of East Saginaw, in the county of Saginaw and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improved Drive-Chains, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to drive-ch ains or chain belts of that type wherethe chain or belt is made of du plicate metallic links so constructedand put together that they are held securely in place in all workingpositions of the chain, but which may be individually detached by movingthe link into some unusual position with relation to the chain. Theapproved form of these links and the one which has best stood the testof use consists of two side bars, two end bars,anda couplinghookcentrallylocated upon one of the end bars and adapted to receive the endbar of a corresponding link. These links have been heretofore madedetachable by providing one or more of these parts with a nick,depression, or other irregularity of contour, so that the links mayslide into and out of operative connection when placed in some unusualposition with relation to each other. This construction has been foundto be objectionable for the reason that the nick or depressiondetermines a point of weakness which eventually destroys the link andtemporarily interrupts the operation of the machine, while anyprojecting knob or other elevation, whether on the side bars, ends bars,or coupling hook, presents difficulties in casting, and eventually wearsaway, impairing to that extent the efficiency of the chain.

The object of my invention is to furnish a detachable link of theapproved form as described and adapted for use upon the existingmachines, which shall be simple in construction and strong and durablein use.

To this end my invention consists in constructing a link with plain sidebars, plain end bars, and a plain coupling-hookthat is to say, all theseparts being of full size and strength unweakened by any nick,depression, or irregularity of contour, and the side bars being providedwith retaining-lugs which engage the outer periphery of thecoupling-hook of a corresponding link in all positions but one, in whichposition the links maybe readily put together or detached.

My invention further consistsin certain details of construction, whichwill be hereinafter described in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure l is a plan view of two links, embodying my invention, placedtogether in their working positions. Fig. 2 is aside view, partly insection, of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 illustrates the manner of attaching anddetaching thelinks to and from each other.

Referring to the drawings, A A are twoplain side bars of the link-thatis to say, they are of the full size and the usual contour and umweakened by any depression or nick.

B is a plain end bar of full size and strength and of the usual shape.From the opposite end bar, 0, projects the coupling-hook D, which is inthe form of a lip or projection of metal extending from the end bardownwardly, forwardly, and upwardly, so as to leave a halfround cavityadapted to receive the end bar of the corresponding link. It is of theusual forn1that is to say, it is of the full size and strength andpresents no irregularity of contour. It is centrally located upon theend bar 0 and is of sufficient width to substantially fill the spacebetween the two side bars of the corresponding link, thereby preventingundue lateral movement of the links in the chain. The outer periphery ofthe ribs 1) are formed on the circumference of a circle, as indicated inFig. 2, for a purpose which will presently appear.

The opening between the end bar 0 and the tip of the coupling-hook d issufficiently wide to admit the end bar B of a correspond ing link.

On the side bars, A, are located the retaining-lugs H, which are adaptedto engage the outer periphery of the webs b of the couplinghook. Theselugs are situated some distance from the junction of the side bars andthe end bars equal to the thickness of the ribs 1), so that the entiremass of the coupling hook throughout its width may enter the spacebetween the end bar D and the retaining-lugs H.

Toincrease the retaining-s11 rface ofthe lugs, their working-faces arecarried out at right angles from the side bars, as indicated in Fig. 1,extending over the full width of the ribs 1) of the coupling-hook. Theworking-faces'of these lugs are curved, as indicated in Fig. 2, toconform with the outer periphery of the ribs which, as before described,are formed upon the circumference of a circle, whereby the face of theretaining-lug is in operative relation with the coupling hook in all theworking positions of the chain. These retaining'lugs are braced againstthe endwise pressure of the joining-links due to the lateral swaying ofthe chain bya strengthening-web of metal, indicated at m, formedintegral with the link and extending from the back face of the lug, asshown, to the body of the link.

The operation of the devices now described is as follows: To join thelinks together, the corresponding-that is to say, the dissimilar-- endsof two links are brought together at right angles, as will be readilyunderstood by refer ence to Fig. 3, with the plain end bar of one linkin proximity to the coupling-hook of an adjoining link. In this positionthe end bar may be readily passed into the mouth of the coupling-hook,which, as described, is of sufficient size to admit the same. Upon thenstraightening out the links the coupling-hook passes into the spacebetween the end bar and the retaining-lugs, as indicated in Fig. 2. Inthis position the parts are securely held in place without any danger ofaccidental dis placement.

Any particular link may be readily detached from the chain by reversingtheoperation just described.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. A detachable chain-link composed ofside bars, end bars, and coupling-hook, all of substantially uniformsize, the coupling-hook being centrally located upon one of the end barsand the side bars being provided with retaining'lugs located at adistance from the junction of the side bars and end bars equal to thethickness of the ribs on the coupling-hook.

2. A detachable chain-link composed of side bars, end bars, andcoupling-hook, all of substantially uniform size, the coupling-hookbeing centrally located upon one of the end bars and having the outerperiphery of its ribs formed on the circumference of a circle, the sidebars being provided with retaining-lugs whose faces are correspondinglyrounded.

3; A detachable chain-link composed of side bars, end bars, andcoupling-hook, all of substantially uniform size, the coupling-hookbeing centrally located upon one of the end bars, the side bars beingprovided with retaininglugs located at some distance from the junctionof the side bars and end bars, and whose workingfaces are perpendicularto said bars.

4. A detachable ehain-link composed of side bars, end bars, andcoupling-hook, all of sub stantially uniform size, the side bars beingprovided with retaininglngs adapted to engage the outer periphery of thecoupling-hook ofa corresponding link, and internal strengtheuing-websfor said retaining-lugs, as and for the purpose described.

Signed at Massillon, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, this 12thday of April, A.

BENJAMIN F. ORTON. Witnesses:

CHAS. M. BUssELL, FRANK L, BALDWIN.

